Tuesday,
June 25, 1814.-This morning the
prisoners
voluntarily surrendered themselves to the
constable, Mr.
Bettisworth, who held the writ against them. The
Governor was at
headquarters in person, and had pledged his own faith
and the faith of
the state
of Illinois,
that the Smiths and other persons should be protected
from personal
violence, and should have a fair and impartial trial,
if they would
surrender themselves to be dealt with according
to law. During the
Governor’s stay in Carthage,
he repeatedly expressed to the legal counselors of the
Smiths his
determination to protect the prisoners, and to
see that they
should have a fair and impartial examination.
At
8 a. m. President Smith had an interview with
William G. Flood of Quincy, U. S.
Receiver of Public
Moneys. While in conversation with him, Constable
David Bettisworth
arrested Joseph
for
treason against the state of Illinois,
with the following writ, which had been granted on the
oath of
Augustine Spencer:
Writ of
Arrest on the Charge of
Treason – Joseph Smith.
STATE
OF
ILLINOIS
CITY
OF
NAUVOO
The
people of the State of Illinois,
to all sheriffs, coroners and constables of
said state greeting:
Whereas
complaint has been made before me, one of
the justices of the
peace in
and for said county aforesaid, upon the oath
of Augustine Spencer, that
Joseph Smith, late of the county aforesaid,
did, on or about the
nineteenth day of June. A. D. 1844, at the
county and state aforesaid, commit
the crime of treason against the government
and
people of the
State of Illinois
aforesaid.
These
are therefore to command you to take the said
Joseph Smith if he be
found in your county, or if he shall have fled,
that you pursue after
the said Smith into another county within this
state, and take and
safely keep the said Joseph Smith, so that you
have his body forthwith
before me to answer the said complaint and be
further dealt with
according to law.
[Seal]
Given
under
my hand and sea1 this 24th day of June, A,D.
1844.
Hyrum
Smith was also arrested at the same time for treason
on the same writ,
granted in the affidavit of Henry O. Norton...
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